Rockville Centre Hispanic Brotherhood hosts Narcan training

The Rockville Centre Coalition for Youth and the Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre, joined forces to host a Narcan training class for all ages on June 18.

Naloxone, commonly referred to as brand-name Narcan, is a medication used to block the effects of a narcotic overdose. Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony D’Esposito taught the course, which certifies civilians in the administration of Narcan.

“The United States has a problem, and we here in Rockville Centre have a problem as well,” he said. “One of the issues we are facing now is that the opioid epidemic, you just can’t tell who is being affected by it. It affects every age group, every religion, every race, every economic background, so that is why we are out there in the communities trying to get this done.”

Since obtaining a grant for the Town of Hempstead, D’Esposito, who teaches Narcan training roughly three times a week, said he has distributed roughly 1,800 of the Narcan kits throughout Long Island. “The way I look at it is if it saves one person, it is well worth the time and the effort,” he said.

The class was held at the Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre, an organization that provides assistance and support to the growing Hispanic population on Long Island.

“We have kids here from the age of five to 18 on a daily basis, and then we have seniors that come here three days a week,” said Marguerite Keller, co-director of the Hispanic Brotherhood, “so the fact that this affects 13-year-olds to 80-year-olds, we have that whole age group here. If this can come in handy one day we are ready for it and we are trained.”